Improvement in car-brakes and starters



J. PARADIS.

Ca Brake andAStarter. v N11. 112,954. A Pamed March21-,1s71.

tniit Shia @anni I time JOSEPH PARADIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND SARAH PARKER, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 112,954,11atea March 21, 1871.

The Schedule referred to in theseLetten Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, J osnPH PARADIS, of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement inv Stopping and Starting Railroad-Gars; and the following is declared to be a correct description thereof.

This invention is for storing the force exerted in stopping the car and applying the same -to starting the car, thereby lessening the strain upon the horses and facilitating the starting of the car with rapidity, even when ascending an incline.

I am aware that many devices havebeen proposed for accomplishing the before-named result. i

My invention relates to the construction and arrangement ofthe parts, whereby they are rendered compact, strong, easily managed, and durable.

In the drawing--V Figure 1 is an inverted plan of a car with my improvement applied to the Wheels and axles, and

Figure 2 is an elevation, the wheels on one side heing removed.

The car body or platform a is to be of any desired size or shape, and the wheels b h and cc, u'pon the axles d and e, are to be of' 4any usual character.

Upon the axle d is a chain-barreh'f, securely fastened in place or formed upon such axle d, and upon the axle e is a similarbarrehf', and upon the inner ends of thesel barrels f f lare ratchet-wheels, i.' v

Upon each axle d or e is a second chain-barrel, h or 11', that is free to turn upon such axle, and to be moved endwise by the lever l or l', so that the disk n or n'and pawl o may be in contact with the ratchet-wheel t', or s'uciently distant therefrom to be out of contact therewith. v The springs are either helical or elliptical, or a compound of several springs, that are arranged so as to be compressed by a movement longitudinally of the car.-

I have shown helical springs around the rod 1J, con nected to the bow or elliptic spring p', and 1' lr are compressing followers, that slide upon the rod p andare connected with the chains tand fu.

The chain t passes around the barrels h' and f to the barrel e, upon the vertical shaft c', which is provided with a handle at its upper end, and the chain u passes in an opposite direct-ion around the barrels h andf' to the barrel w on the vertical shaft fw', which is also provided with a handle.

Itis now to be understood that the barrel f, disk n,

and paw] `o at the forward end of the car are to be thrown ont of gear, so as to remain stationaryas the wheels c and axle revolve, and that'. the barrel-f', disk n', and pawl o at the rear axle either revolve with that axle, if the chain t around the barrel h' hangs lcomparatively loosely; or, if-said chain'is attached to the said barrel near the middle of three or four turns of the chain around the'barrel, then the disk, barrel, and; pawl will remain stationary, while the teeth of the ratchetwheel underrun the pawls as the axle and Wheels lre- Y volve.

When the chain tis tightened by the handle 3, shaft v', and barrel c, then the chain is drawn upon .by the barrel f as it revolves with the wheels c, and the barrel h is simultaneously turned and the springs compressed until, by the resistance of the springs, the revolution of the wheels c is stopped,the slack of the chain t being wound upon the barrel lu.

The parts are held by the handle 3 until the car is to be started, when, upon slackening the chain t, the springs p Willbe free to act upon the-chain t and revolve the barrel It', disk n', and pawl, and through them the wheels b b and axle e, in the. direction in Vwhich they move as the oar moves forward; thereby the force that is stored in the springs in the act of stopping the car" is expended in starting the car, either on an incline or upon a level track.

When the car' is being drawn in the reverse direction the disk 'n' and pawl o are moved to disconnect from the ratchet-wheel i, and the parts at the other end are connected, so that thestopping and starting mechan-V ism i s available at either end ot' the car.

Wire ropes may be substituted-for chains. Thisapparatus may be used singly, to work from only one end. o'f the car.

I claim as my invention- The barrel h', disk u', pawl, and ratchet on one axle, and arbarrel, f, on the other axle, inl combination with the springs and a rope or chain -passing around said barrels and leading to a hand-shaft and barrel for compressing the spring in stopping the car, and applying its vpower in startin g the car, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 30th day of November, A. D.

JOSEPH PARADIS. Witnesses:

Crus. H. SMITH, Gno. T. PmonNnY. 

